Rose plant

ABSTRACT

1. A new and distinct variety of miniature rose plant of hardy, dwarf, bushy, upright, much branched habit, essentially as illustrated and described, characterized by buds and flowers of a bright pink color resembling the Judy Fischer miniature rose (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 3,137) and resembling the Sheri Anne miniature rose (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 3,826) in size and form of bud and flower; and further characterized by a plant which is vigorous and compact, said plant being easy to propagate from cuttings, with medium small, disease resistant, glossy foliage, an abundance of bloom, with better than average keeping quality, with flowers borne singly or several to the stem in loose clusters.

The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of hardy,dwarf, bush type rose plant of the miniature class; the variety beingprimarily characterized -- as to novelty -- by bright rose pink buds andflowers which in general color effect are similar to Judy Fischer(miniature -- U.S. Plant Pat. No. 3,137).

The variety is further characterized by:

An abundance of bloom with flowers borne singly or several to stem inloose clusters.

Sweet fragrance.

A plant which is vigorous, of rounded upright shape and with glossy,medium -- small foliage with pointed leaflets; the buds and flowersbeing similar in form and size to Sheri Anne (miniature -- U.S. PlantPat. No. 3,826).

The plant, which has a normal height of 12-14 inches, can easily bemaintained at lesser height by occasional trimming.

A plant which grows and blooms satisfactorily both in greenhouse andoutdoors; is good for growing in pots; and provides excellent gardendecoration as well as cut flowers.

The present variety of miniature rose was originated by me at my nurserylocated at Visalia, Calif., under conditions of careful control andobservation, as a cross between Rumba (Floribunda -- U.S. Plant Pat. No.1,919) as the seed parent and an un-named seedling (miniature -- notpatented) as the pollen parent.

Subsequent to origination of the variety I successfully asexuallyreproduced it, in my nursery located as aforesaid, by budding as well asby cuttings; the reproductions having run true in all respects.

The color photograph illustrates the variety, including foliage, budsand flowers.

Referring now specifically to the new and distinct variety of miniaturerose plant, the following is a detailed description thereof in outline;all major color plate identifications being by reference to the BritishColour Council Horticultural Colour Chart, except where common terms ofcolor definition are employed.

Type: Hardy, dwarf, bushy; seedling; greenhouse; outdoors; cut flowers;garden decoration; potted plant.

Class: Miniature. Variety name: "Watercolor".

Flowers: Continuity; continuous -- repeat bloom all season. Fragrance;sweet.

Flowers borne: Singly and several together (3 to 5) on sturdy, wiry,medium length stems.

Quantity of bloom: Abundant both outside and in greenhouse.

Bud: Peduncle -- medium length; slender but sturdy; erect; medium green,sometimes tinted bronze (outdoors); hairs -- may be some very short,very fine (fuzzy). Before calyx breaks; size -- small. Form: mediumlong; pointed with few foliaceous appendages and few or no hairs onsurface of bud; with foliaceous parts extending beyond the tip of thebud equal to one-half or less of its length. Color -- medium green,occasionally tinted with bronze (outdoors). As calyx breaks, color --light red or pink; opens: same general color or lighter shade. Size --small.

Bloom: Size when fully open -- small, averaging about 35 to 40 mm.Petalage -- double 22-26 petals, arranged regularly. Form -- full; highcenter at first, becoming more open in the center, with petals rolledloosely outward, and later at maturity open with petals folded at tipsto give a pointed effect and rolled loosely outward and downward. Openflowers show yellow stamens.

Petals: Thick; satiny on inside and on outside surface. Shape -- outsidepetals, broad lanceolate with acute tip; intermediate -- broadlanceolate with acute tip; inside -- lanceolate with acute tip.

Color: Newly opened flower from a plant grown in plastic greenhouse(March, 1976), Visalia, Calif.

Outside petal.--Outside surface -- near Rose Madder 23 with both lighterand darker areas (or veining), and with small near white area at base;inside surface -- pink, similar to Rose Madder 23/1 or lighter, shadinginto near white at base.

Intermediate petal.--Outside surface -- similar to outside petal. Insidesurface -- similar to outside petal.

Inner petal.--Outside surface -- same as intermediate petal; insidesurface -- same as intermediate petal. General color effect newly openedflowers -- bright deep to medium pink. Three days open -- color similarto newly opened flowers but lighter shade. Behavior -- as flowers agethe inside (upper) surface of petals (area exposed to sunlight) tend todeepen in color -- often becoming quite red. Spent petals drop off.Flower longevity (October, 1975) -- plant in pot 5-7 days or longer. Cutflowers at living room temperature 4-7 days.

Reproductive organs:

Stamens.--Abundant, arranged regularly about pistil.

Filaments.--Varying length, light yellow, fairly short.

Anthers.--Well formed; yellow.

Pollen.--Fair amount.

Pistils.--Average number.

Styles.--Fairly even; short to medium length; bunched; color -- nearwhite.

Stigma.--Nearly white,

Ovaries.--All enclosed in calyx.

Hips.--Several.

Sepals.--Permanent; spear shaped; recurved.

Seed.--Few.

Foliage:

Leaves.--Compound of five (sometimes three or seven) leaflets; abundant;medium small; leathery; glossy.

Leaflets.--Shape: broad lanceolate, nearly oval; apex acute; baserounded or rounded acute. Margin serrate. Color: medium green; newgrowth -- reddish. Rachis: medium strength; upper side may have a fewtiny short hairs and/or prickles, grooved, underside sparsely thornywith few or no tiny prickles.

Stipules.--Medium long; narrow to medium width medium length narrowpoints which turn out usually at about 45° or less.

Growth:

Habit.--Dwarf; bushy; upright; much branched.

Growth.--Free vigorous.

Canes.--Medium; slender; sturdy.

Main stems.--Color -- medium green.

Thorns.--Few; usually small; straight, inclined slightly downward; color-- brown. Prickles -- none. Hairs -- none.

Branches.--Color -- medium green. Thorns -- few; short length; slender;nearly straight inclined slightly downward. Medium to short oval base.Prickles -- none. Hairs -- none.

New shoots.--Color -- reddish. Thorns -- few; color -- reddish;straight. Prickles -- none. Hairs -- none.

The miniature rose plant and its flowers as herein described may vary inslight detail due to climatic, soil and cultural conditions under whichthe variety may be grown; the present description being of the varietyas grown at Visalia, Calif.

The following is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct variety of miniaturerose plant of hardy, dwarf, bushy, upright, much branched habit,essentially as illustrated and described, characterized by buds andflowers of a bright pink color resembling the Judy Fischer miniaturerose (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 3,137) and resembling the Sheri Anne miniaturerose (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 3,826) in size and form of bud and flower; andfurther characterized by a plant which is vigorous and compact, saidplant being easy to propagate from cuttings, with medium small, diseaseresistant, glossy foliage, an abundance of bloom, with better thanaverage keeping quality, with flowers borne singly or several to thestem in loose clusters.